Bunchgrass Farm

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This has been a great year for weeds and for flies. The turkeys are pleased. Perhaps this explains why the chickens have not been tempted into the onions this year. Our new broods of dark cornish and buff orpingtons have settled in outside and it's ever so good to have the greenhouse back. We learned that chicks just LOVE marshmallow, rhubarb, and lovage, the three permanent plants under the benches in the workspace. That worked out pretty well except for limiting the usefulness of the space for starting, since there were several escapes to feast. Still, very healthy chickens and we love eggs, so you give a little and get back some mighty proteins for the humans. We are harvesting enormous Walla Walla sweet onions outside...big as a house...no...but a generous saucepanful per bulb. I think we got lucky with the garlic, largely dry farmed this season due to irrigation challenges in that section. Yield has been mostly small, but very potent bulbs. Our garlic bulbstock is 3rd season grown here and each variety is selected for its traditional, medicinal, culinary, and keeping qualities. We're harvesting and drying some of a fine harvest of mint for teas this season. The gaillardias are still blooming and the crested wheat is doing its falling dance. No roses yet, but the rabbits had no taste for them this year, yet, and they did put on some nice foliage, finally! Soon we'll be pumping all of the garden water with wind power, so stay tuned for news on the homepower gardening development.

Yay! From this morning's thinkprogress.org Progress Report D.C. residents are getting a new farmers market right near the White House. Approximately 20 vendors will gather every Thursday afternoon this fall. The organizers of FreshFarmMarkets said they contacted the White House shortly after Inauguration Day with the idea, and the administration was "very enthusiastic." Assistant White House chef Sam Kass endorsed the idea, saying it was "totally and completely consistent with the goals that the White House has had in terms of fresh food and healthy eating."   [Read More]

The turkeys are growing big and happy. This time of year, we're letting them graze selected runs in the main vegetable garden. The chocolate turkeys have proven more succeptible to local predators than have their Rio Grand wild turkey cousins. Looks like there will be plenty to fill the freezer, as well as provide some holiday CSA treats and food bank gifts.

Brought in a few pounds each of garlic, walla walla sweet onions, and strawberries. Yum!